hunger and other calamities which fell vpon them they broke out into murmuring and blasphemous speeches against God and into open rebellion and insurrection against Moses and Aaron their gouernours insomuch as they had stoned them to death had not God by an out-stretched arme preserued thē Numb 14.10 The third is their wilfulnesse or obstinacie For they being with Narcissus in loue with themselues and doting vpon their owne waies will not hearken vnto the charmer charme he neuer so sweetly as appeareth by Christs speech in Math. 11.17.18.19 But as Ieremy doth well obserue of them in Chap. 5.3 They make their faces harder then a stone and do refuse to returne In regard whereof the Lord sending foorth his seruant Ezechiel to preach vnto his people he tels him that they will not heare him and that because they are impudent children and stiffe-hearted Ezech. 2.4 The fourth and last is their vnbeliefe or vnfaithfulnesse For as Christ doth well obserue of his owne Disciples that they were dull of heart and slow to beleeue Luke 24.25 So they distrusting God and not relying vpon him with a stedfast faith do depart away from him and commit grieuous abominations against him according to that in Ier. 5.23 But this people hath an vnfaithfull and rebellious heart they are departed and gone So then these foure vices reigning amongst them do like a violent streame carry them to all kind of rebellions The causes of their rebellion being thus touched Vse now let vs come to the vses of the doctrine They are in number foure For first here we may learne in that all do thus rebell that the greatest number in the world is not the best but the worst The flocke of Christ is a little flocke according to his owne words in Luke 12.32 when he saith Feare not little flocke for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you a kingdome But the flocke of the diuell is a great flocke according to that in Reuel 20.8 Where his armie that he gathered together against the Saints of God out of the foure quarters of the earth euen Gog and Magog is compared to the sands of the sea for number Oh weigh this well and with a religious heart and let neither Popery tell you of multitude which they make to be a marke of Gods Church nor the carnall Gospeller of the generality of the world which they make to be the rule of their liues but euer looke for truth and goodnesse in the smallest number For many according to Christs words do go in at the wide gate and broad way that leadeth to destruction and but few at the straight gate and narrow way that leadeth vnto life Math. 7.13.14 Secondly here we may learne that we must not care for the loue liking of the world nor hang vpon the multitude for their applause fauour for they are against the Lord not for him Surely as they are most vnconstant in their waies turning vpon euery small occasion like the weather-cocke at the blast of the wind this day one being a man with them to morrow a beast this day none better with them to morrow none worse this day a god with them to morrow a diuell as we may see by their dealing towards Christ Paul So their loue and fauour must needes be bent towards the worst seeing they themselues are bad and do oppose thēselues against the Almighty Remember alwaies what Christ said vnto his Disciples about this matter If ye were of the world saith he in Ioh. 15.19 the world would loue his owne but because ye are not of the world but I haue chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you Wherefore as they that runne at tilt looke to the iudges what they say and not what the vulgar people say so I beseech you looke you euer what your iudge in heauen doth allow or approue and care not what the world and the people thereof do thinke or say Thirdly here we may learne that the multitude and the common people will be enimies vnto you and labour to resist you whensoeuer you shall go about to serue the Lord aright If you shall once begin to seeke Christ and to come vnto him they shall stand in your way to hinder you as they did stand in Zacheus way when he went foorth to see Christ Luke 19.3 If you be once in his presence do begin to call vpon him for mercy helpe they wil rebuke you as they did the poore blind man who cryed vnto him saying Iesus the Son of Dauid haue mercy on me Luke 18.39 If you be sicke or dead in your sins trespasses and Christ doth begin to come home to the houses of your soules to heale you and to raise you vp from the death of your sins they will stop his passage and entrance in if they can as they did when Christ came to the Rulers house to heale his daughter that was sicke yea dead when he came Math. 9.23 But as Christ turned them there out of dores saying Get you hence so must you shake them all off and not communicate with flesh bloud in the matters of your God But do as Abraham did when he sacrificed to God the fowles of the heauen fell on the carkeises which he had prepared for the sacrifice but he droue them away Gen. 15.11 So if any do begin to molest you whē you are going about any spirituall sacrifice resist them and driue them away saying with Christ vnto Peter Auoid satan Math. 16.23 Lastly here we may learne to take heede of the people and in any case not to do as they do For seeing that they do rebell against the Lord and the whole world as Iohn doth say 1. Ioh. 5.19 doth lye in wickednesse we must not follow them nor go after their waies to prouoke the holy one of Israel against vs as they do Fashion not your selues saith Paul like vnto this world but bee yee changed by the renewing of your minds that you may proue what is the good will of God and acceptable and perfect Rom. 12.2 The number and multitude must not mooue vs. For what saith the Lord Thou shalt not follow a multitude to doe euill neither agree in a controuersie to decline after many and ouerthrow the truth Exod. 23.2 Wherfore do I beseech you as Wisedome doth counsell vs for to do If sinners do entice vs to go with them let vs not walke in the way with them but refraine our feete from their paths Prou. 1.15 And as Paul doth require of vs let vs not be companions with them nor haue any fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse but let vs rather reprooue them Ephes 5.7.11 Hitherto of the first point Now followes the second In that this their rebellion was wrought by raging and murmuring and these were the chiefe heads thereof Doctr. we are taught this doctrine that raging and murmuring are two great and notorious 〈◊〉 alwaies to bee
shall repent For repentance is not at your commandement neither doth it lie in your power to take it when you will but it is the onely gift of God and in his hands alone to bestow it vpon whom he will as you may see plainly by Pauls words in the latter end of the 2. chapter of his 2. Epistle to Timothy And the longer that you do continue in your sinnes as you haue heard already the harder it will be for you to leaue them in the end For custome of sinning taketh away the sence of sinning and long abode in darkenesse maketh starke blind Lastly if repentance were in your power as it is not in the power of any mortall man whatsoeuer and so you were certaine to turne at the last if you would yet you ought to repent presently because your selues and all that you haue or can do do belong to the Lord your God who must be preferred before all things as was shewed before vnto you For God must haue a morning sacrifice as well as an euening And it is very absurd and wicked for a man to offer the first of his vintage to the delights of sinne and to serue God with the lees and dregs of his age or to yeeld the flower and strength of his life vnto the foule affections of wretched nature and to reserue for God the very refuse and weaknesse of his time wherefore turne turne I beseech you euen now presently and make no longer delay I speake to you young men and maides because you must remember your Creator in the daies of your youth before old age doth come as Salomon doth teach you in Eccles 12.1 and because you are now aptest and fittest to do seruice vnto the Almighty as hauing all the powers of the body and soule in the chiefest vigor and strength for the exercises of pure and holy region You must not spend your time in vanity or in the carnall pleasures of your flesh after the manner of wicked yong men and maids but in holinesse and righteousnesse according to the vow and promise which you haue made with your God in baptisme after the manner of godly yong men and maides who are regenerated and adopted to life eternall And to restraine your selues the better in you must alwaies remember with your selues that you shall be brought at the day of indgement to answere for euery thing which you shall do amisse in this time of your youth be it great or smal whether words or deeds as you may see in the end of the eleuenth chapter of Eccles I speake to you old men and women because you haue lien too long in your sinnes and are ready to droppe into the graue For it is too much already that you haue spent your former time after the lusts of men and not after the will of God in much wickednesse and abhominations As Paul saith in Ephe. 5.14 Awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead and Christ shall giue thee light so I say to you Awake all you that sleepe in your sinnes and stand vp all you that are dead in your trespasses and so the Lord shall giue you life and not death It was too late you know for the foolish virgins to knocke when the gate was shut against them and for the rich glutton to howle and cry to Abraham when he was tormented in hell So before it be too late for you remember your selues and while you haue light walke in the light and betake your selues soundly vnto the Lord as it doth become you In a word I speake to you all without exception because I loue you all and would gladly haue you godly here vessels of glory hereafter happy for this world and happy for the world to come make no couenant with your sinnes but renounce them all from this day forward for euermore And albeit they shall as it were cry out and say Why do you come to dismisse vs before the time As the diuels said to Christ when he did cast them out Why dost thou torment vs before the time yet hearken not vnto them but giue them a deafe eare For the time 1 e already come if not past already For we should haue repented long ago in sackecloth and ashes if we had done as we ought to haue done but yet now now let vs turne and deferre no day or houre longer but while the word is sounding in our eares let vs be conuerted vnto the Lord. He is the fondest fellow that euer was heard of who falling into a deepe riuer and hauing present helpe offered him whilst he is yet swimming on the toppe of the water maketh refusall of it and answereth that he will not be helped till another time or before the next day when as he is in danger to sinke presently and to be drowned euery minute of an houre Beware we that we deale not after the same manner for if we shall deferre our repentance and conuersion to God our case is no better then his For euery minute of an houre we stand liable through our sins to be throwne into hell What shall we then stay and not turne As God said to Israel Turne you turne you from your euill waies for why will you die ô house of Israel so say I to you Turne you turne you from your cuill waies for why will you die ô people of England Some I grant will out of hand repent in words but not in deeds they haue Iacobs smooth voyce but Esaus rough hands Their mouthes as one saith are greater then their hands which is monstrous in nature for they word it much but they worke it little As the figge tree spoken of in the Gospell had faire leaues but no figges so they haue goodly words but no holy workes They are deciptfull Gibeonites and painted tombes like the hypocriticall Scribes and Pharisies But we must do otherwise wee must be sound in heart as Nathaniel was who was a true Israelite and be plentifull in good deeds as Iob was who was a true child of God we must repent both inwardly and outwardly in word and in worke and so I hope you will doe as also make hast for to do it Obiect But here some man may say what a stirre is here about repentance here is more hast required then needs for a soft fire makes sweet malt we may repent at our ley sure For first nullum tempus est poenitentiae inidoneum there is no time vnfit for repentance Secondly Deus est Deus misericordiae God is a God of mercy he will forgiue vs whensoeuer we shall repent and turne to him Ans This this hath alwayes bene the fashion of the world Looke how indulgent mothers are wont to deale with their children going to schoole that haue ouer-slept themselues and do feare the correction of their maisters euen so do carnall men and women deale with themselues when they haue continued too long in their sinnes and do heare the
like a boy of a sprack wit that wants but a good maister to instruct him or a faire white paper that needs nothing but a writing to be set in it But here we see it is otherwise for as man is ignorant of the law of God so he is a starke enimie vnto it he will not be subiect to the commandements of God nor be obedient vnto them Surely euery man by nature is dead in his sinnes and trespasses as Paul did obserue of the Ephesians in Ephes 2.1 and no man vnlesse he be borne againe can thinke well of the law of the Lord and yeeld vp chearfull obedience thereunto Secondly here we may behold the great difference that is betweene the wicked and the godly For as the wicked do abhorre the lawes of God saying Come let vs breake their bands and cast their cords behind vs so the godly do loue the lawes of God saying Come and let vs go vp to the mountaine of the Lord and to the house of the God of Iacob and he will teach vs his wayes and we will walke in his paths Mica 4.2 And the reasons thereof are these First because they see they come from God their sweet Sauiour and do tend to their eternall good for we cannot but loue that which doth come from him whom we loue best and of whom we are loued most especially when we know that he will send vs nothing which is hurtfull but good as we iudge of God and that according to his owne word in Rom. 8.29 Secondly because they know that the curse thereof shall neuer take hold of them in as much as Christ was made a curse for them Thirdly because they are made easie and pleasant vnto them as by vse and custome they exercising themselues therein day and night so chiefly by the regeneration of the holy spirit of God who doth assist them and make them powerfull vnto good workes Lastly because they bring with them great rewards and honours at the last euen ioyes that are vnspeakable and riches without all end for number and continuance For as this made Iacob to serue seuen yeares for Rahel and Moses to leaue Pharaohs court and to endure much trouble in the wildernesse euen the reward that they did looke for so doth this excellent reward which doth attend vpon the obseruers of Gods commandements make vs euermore to regard them and to haue a care to obserue and to keepe them More might be spoken of this difference that is betwixt the godly and the wicked but this is enough The other doctrine collected out of the text is this Doct. that when men do resist the law of God and oppose themselues against the same then do they rebell against God himselfe and become traytors vnto him As he is a traytor to his Prince who doth altogether set himselfe against the lawes of his Prince and will be subiect to none of them but breake them all to disgrace him and to bring an ouerthrow vnto his estate or kingdome The reason is this for I will but touch this point and end Reason because his lawes are but the significations of his will and the testimonies of his mind and pleasure vnto vs. And you know that none can resist his will mind or pleasure but he must needs resist him himselfe The vse hereof standeth chiefly in two things Vse For first it serueth to detect the great sinnes and enormities that are amongst vs. There is a generation saith Agur in Prou. 30.12 that are pure in their owne conceipts and yet are not washed from their filthinesse We are of that number for we thinke too well of our selues Who is there almost that doth count himselfe a rebell and a tray tor against his God yet all of vs are such for we breake his commandements still and will not be ruled by his statutes and ordinances but we follow the imaginations of our owne hearts and do what seeme good in our owne eyes For these things we must strike vppon the thighs and repent and learne to do so no more Secondly it should awaken vs vp and be a sharpe spurre in our sides to keepe vs alwayes running in the commandements of our God Oh beloued brethren how carefull should we be both to know the lawes of our God and also to keepe them considering that otherwise we do but rebell and commit treason against our sweet and louing God Shall we rise vp against him that hath made vs against him that hath redeemed vs against him that hath sanctified vs against him that doth daily prescrue vs and against him in one word that will glorifie vs hereafter in the heauens No no farre be this from our soules yet this we must needs do vnlesse we endeuor carefully to keepe his commandements And therfore I beseech you looke to them Let them be a lanterne to your feete and a light to your paths Let them be your counsellors and the men of your law and whatsoeuer you thinke desire speake or do thinke all desire all speake all and do all according to the rule and direction thereof that so you may not be rebels and traytors vnto the Lord but be his saithfull seruants and true subiects vnto your liues ende Amen The end of the third Sermon THE FOVRTH SERMON vpon the second Psalme PSAL. 2. VER 4.5 6. But he that dwelleth in the heauens shall laugh the Lord shall haue them in derision Then shall he speake vnto them in his wrath and vexe them in his sore displeasure saying Euen I haue set my king vpon Zion mine holy Mountaine HItherto the Prophet hath shewed who did rebell against the Lord and his Annointed Now he doth begin to declare what the Lord and his Annointed are against whom they do so rebell The Lord is set out in these three verses and his Annointed in the three next The scope drift in the description of them both is one and the selfe same and it stands in two points The one is to shew that all the opposition or resistance that is made against them is in vaine and to no purpose The other is to declare that those that do make the opposition or resistance are in most wofull and wretched case and such as cannot escape most fearefull and vnrecouerable iudgements vnlesse they do in time preuent the same by true and hearty repentance or amendment of life in turning vnto them and in becoming faithfull and loyall subiects vnto them as they ought to be This is the summe of all these verses but at this time we are to stand vpon the three former alone The Prophet going about to describe the Lord euen the Father in the godhead or the first Person in the Trinitie notes him out first of all by his place or abode which is not vpon the earth where his enimies may come at him but in the heauens where they cannot come neare vnto him so that all their power 〈◊〉 malice intended against him can do him no
and that is included in these words This day haue I begotten thee that is this day or time wherein thou doest rise from the dead and returne from death vnto life haue I manifested and declared vnto the world all abroad that thou art my Sonne and that I haue begotten thee For so is this place expounded by Paul euen of the time of Christs resurrection as we may see in Acts 13.30.33 So that then there must be a distinction made betweene generation or begetting it selfe and the manifestation of it The generation or begetting it selfe was from all eternitie but the manifestation of it was in time and then chiefly when Christ rose from the dead For then was he mightily declared to be the Sonne of God as the Scripture doth teach vs. But here before we stand vpon the proofe it selfe a few things may be obserued touching the generation or Gods begetting of his Sonne For as we are to know that Christ is the Sonne of God so we are to vnderstand in some sort how the Father did beget him whose Sonne he is said to be The manner therefore of this generation in few words was this The Sonne was begotten of the substance of the Father not by any fluxe as when water is deriued from the head of the spring to the channell not by any decision as when a thing is cut in peeces nor by any propagation as when a graft is transplanted into a new stocke but by an vnspeakable communication of the whole essence or godhead from the Father to the Sonne in receiuing whereof the Sonne doth no more diminish the maiestie or godhead of the Father then the light of one candle doth the light of another from which it is taken The time of this generation hath neither beginning middle nor end and therefore it is eternall before all worlds Wisedome in the Prouerbes which with one consent of all Diuines is said to be Christ affirmeth that she was before the world was created that is from eternitie For before the world was made there was nothing but eternity Prou. 8.24 Here are many things to be wondred at in this generation of the Sonne and we must be warned not to conceiue it in any carnall or humane manner For there is a great difference betweene it and those generations which are found here in this world amongst vs that are men For first in our generations the father is in time before his son and the son is after his father but in this generation God the Father and the Sonne are coeternall and not one before or after the other for time Secondly in our generations the father is forth of the sonne and the sonne forth of the father so that they are distant in place sometimes the one from the other many a mile but in this generation God the Father is in the Sonne and the Sonne is in the Father so that they are in place alwayes together Thirdly in our generations the sonne is from his father by propagation but in this generation the Son is from the Father by communication of substance and not by propagation Finally in our generations the father doth beget the sonne by communicating onely his seed vnto him but in this generation God the Father doth beget the Sonne by communicating his whole substance vnto him So that here is a fourefold difference to be found betwixt our carnall and this spirituall generation or begetting And therefore I beseech you do none of you conceiue of it after a grosse manner but pray you vnto God for spirituall eyes that you may behold it And if any of you cannot conceiue aright of it wonder at it as at a deepe mysterie but beware contemne it not as a thing either false or vnfruitfull And so I leaue it and come to the proofe it selfe That is taken you see from Christs resurrection from the dead All the miracles that Christ did frō time to time going stil beyond the reach and power of man did declare that he was the Sonne of God yet it hath pleased the holy Ghost to apply this chiefly vnto his resurrection as being a most notable argument to proue the same For being dead if he had not bene the Sonne of God indeed he had neuer risen againe but had perished in death And in that the Father raised him againe to life he gaue euident witnesse and testimonie that he was his owne naturall Sonne and that he had begotten him from all eternitie And therefore Paule doth say that he was mightily declared to be the Sonne of God by the resurrection from the dead in Rom. 1.4 So that those that doubt whether Christ be the Sonne of God or no they may be resolued if they will but throughly consider of his resurrection from the dead For thus they may reason with themselues No creature that is dead and buried can of himselfe rise againe from the graue and returne from death vnto life but he that doth this must needs be the Sonne of God But Christ Iesus was dead and buried yet he rose againe from the graue and returned from death vnto life Therefore Christ Iesus is no bare creature but he is a Creator and the Sonne of the liuing God Many things might be here obserued and stood vpon concerning this point but because they are common matters and are included in the Article of our faith touching the resurrection of Christ from the dead I will passe them ouer and referre them to your owne priuate meditations Onely noting here by the way that as God did manifest the generation of his naturall Sonne vnto the world and did make men see that he had begotten him euen by his miracles and chiefly by raising him from the dead so he doth continually manifest the generation of his adopted sons and make them knowne to themselues and vnto others by his holy working in them and chiefly by his raising of them vp from the death of sinne vnto the life of righteousnesse as we may plainly see by many places of the holy Scripture but most excellently by that which Iohn hath written in the third chapter of his first Epistle the 8.9 and 10. verses thereof For there he doth manifestly teach vs who they be that are borne of God and how they may be knowne from the children of the Diuell and that is by their liues and conuersations For as the one of them do commit sinne who are of the Diuell so the other of them do not sinne who are of God but they worke righteousnesse and become holy as God their Father is holy yea as he doth further say they cannot sinne because they are borne of God So that then they are not leud and licentious as others are but they are sanctified persons and such as do worke out their saluation with feare and trembling By this we may shortly learne two things the one is whether we our selues be the children of God or no the other is whom of others we are
murmure against any of these is to murmure against God himselfe because all of them haue their calling from God and do supplie his roome and place nor against any worke or word of the Almightie whether you be in aduersity or in prosperity but be quiet waite vpon the Lord praying alwayes for the redresse of things that are amisse but neuer murmuring for any thing And so I passe from the acts of the people and come to the Prophets wondring at the same He doth demand and aske the question saying Why do the heathen rage and the people murmure in vaine And this he doth by way of admiration as wondring at them for this their so doing Sometimes we aske a question when we doubt of a matter or know it not So the Apostles asked of Christ why he did speake to the multitude in parables Matth. 13.10 Sometimes we aske a question when we know a thing our selues and would gladly teach it to another So one of the Elders whom Iohn saw standing about the throne of God asked of Iohn what they were and wherehence they came which stood before the throne and before the Lambe clothed with long white robes and palmes in their hands Reuel 7.13 Sometimes we aske the question for neither of these ends but to tempt or to entrap So the Herodians asked Christ whether it were lawfull to giue tribute to Caesar or no. Math. 22.17 Sometimes we aske a question when we would checke or reproue one for some thing which is either spoken or done amisse So God asked of Caine where his brother Abel was Gen. 4.9 Sometimes we aske a question when we would expresse a thing with the greater force and vehemency So Paul asked of the Romanes how they that were dead to sinne should yet liue therein Rom. 6.2 Sometimes we aske a question when we would stop his mouth that doth propose vnnecessary or vnpleasing matters vnto vs. So Christ asked the chiefe Priests and Elders of the people whether the baptisme of Iohn were from heauen or from men Math. 21.25 Sometimes lastly we aske a question when we maruell or wonder at a matter So Dauid asked what man was that God did so regard him and extoll him aboue the rest of his creatures Psal 8.4 Thus you see that questions are proposed vpon sundrie considerations and for diuerse ends But the end why the Prophet here doth propose this question is for wondrings sake for he saw such madnesse and foolishnesse in the heathen and people for their raging and murmuring against the Lord that he could not but maruell and wonder at the same If a man should attempt a thing that is either vnpossible to be done as to cary a Church vpon his backe or else which being done will be altogether hurtfull vnto him as to kicke his heeles against sharpe needles we should wonder and maruell at him much for it thinke that he were mad and out of his wits So was it with the Prophet in this case he saw first that they went about a thing impossble that which could neuer be brought to passe for who can remoue the Lord out of his throne or displace him out of his kingdome none no not all the inhabitants of the world Againe he saw in the second place that as this was impossible so it was a thing altogether vnprofitable for them and most hurtfull in euery respect For whether we respect Dauid or Christ they could not haue the like king againe in all the world For as it is recorded of Dauid that he was a man according to Gods owne heart and that he executed iudgement and iustice vnto all his people as it is in 2. Sam. 8.15 so it is chronicled of Christ that he was the very ingraued forme of his Fathers person and that the scepter of his kingdome was ascepter of righteousnesse he louing righteousnesse and hating iniquitie Heb. 1.2.8.9 And as though this were not a commendations great enough of him that he should reigne as a king and prophet execute iudgement and iustice in the earth marke what the Lord doth adde further to this in Ier 23.6 when he saith In his dayes Iudah shall be saued and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the name whereby they shall call him The Lord our righteousnesse that so thereby we might know that all those are in a most happie estate who are vnder him and his dominion In regard of both which things you may see that the Prophet might well wonder and maruell as here he doth at their rebelliō Whereout shortly obserue this doctrine Doct. That the acts of the world and the people thereof are such oftentimes that a wise and godly man such as the Prophet was may well wonder and maruell at them It is noted in Esay cap. 59. v. 16. that God himselfe did wonder at the dealing of the world that there was no man found in it that would offer himselfe to helpe the Church in these words And when he saw that there was no man he wondred that none would offer himselfe But what may the reason of this be Reason that we may draw quickly to an end In few words it is this because they haue no good groūd nor reason for that which they do but either haue or might haue many good reasons to the contrary The which thing we may see as in other things so in the conspiracy of our traytors whether against our former Queene of blessed memory or against our present King of holy reputation For I dare protest that none of them had euer any iust cause giuen vnto them whereby they might be moued to their treason or rebellion but they had many excellent reasons still to stay them from it as their peace their wealth their honor and the like which they did alwaies in great abundance enioy but chiefly the word of God which did charge them not to touch the Lords annointed no not though the had bin persecuted to the death as Dauid in a manner was by Saul daily experiences by the which they did see that all their plots frō time to time were euermore in vain did still turne to their own ruine destructiō Wherefore seeing the acts of the people are acts so farre voide of reason vnderstanding Vse that a good holy man may wonder at them do you neither approue of them your selues neither yet ioyne with them in any of their wayes that are of such a nature or qualitie but follow you that which is wel pleasing vnto the Lord remēbring alwayes what God said to the Prophet Esay in the like case when he tooke him by the hand taught him that he should not walke in the way of the people saying Say ye not a confederacy to al them to whom this people saith a confederacy neither feare you their feare nor be afraid of them but sanctifie the Lord of hosts let him be your feare and let him be your dread Esay 8.11.12.13
of speech after the manner of a story but now commeth an exhortation to hand wherein all the former rebels standing in most woefull case and dreadfull perill of their liues are graciously called vpon to returne and to submit themselues vnto the Lord and his Annoynted against whom they made their former rebellion and insurrection Great was the sin which they had committed yet the Lord whose mercy hath neither bottome nor measure not willing the death of any sinner much lesse of so many thousands together but rather that by repentance pardon may be procured in this place fauourably vseth the meanes that their hearts may smite them with true feeling of their faults and so they turne be spared He cals vpon them all for true repentance and amendment of life shewing vnto them both wherein it doth stand and also when it must be yeelded vnto him It standeth in two things the one is an heauenly wisedome and an holy knowledge of the Lords waies The other is a loyall subiection and a faithfull obedience vnto his commandements Both these he doth require of them First that they be wise and learned in his word or statutes then secondly that they be subiect and obedient vnto him and his Sonne in performing such duties as do belong vnto them And as for the time when these things are to be done it is straight and out of hand they must not deferre them no not so much as one day but presently they must goe about them whithout any delay or procrastination whatsoeuer This is the summe of this verse with the two next following But to leaue them at this time and to stand onely vpon this marke the paraphrase thereof it runneth after this manner Now therefore saith the Prophet while there is time before the iudgement before spoken of do ouertake you and consume you to nothing labour you to get true wisdome and vnderding plant you the word of the Lord in your soules and be well seene and learned in his statutes that you may know your selues and vnderstand aright what the Lord your God doth require at your hands for all matters which do respect his worship and your owne peace And here I speake not alone to the small ones and the baser sort of the people but I speake to you all and chiefly to you that are the great ones and the states of the land euen to you that are Princes and haue the chiefe stroke in matters of gouernment and to you that are Iudges and haue authority to sit vpon life and death and to censure all matters and persons that are brought before you to you I say do I chiefly speake and therefore looke to your selues deferre not your repentance any longer but presently while you haue time be wise and learned So that the summe of this verse is nothing else Summe but an exhortation vnto the first part of repentance which standeth in the true knowledge of the Lord and his wayes wherein remember two points Part. First the persons to whom the exhortatiō is directed then secondly the matter to the which they are exhorted containing first the time when the duty is to be done which he doth require of them then the thing it selfe wherein it doth stand or consist The persons to whom the exhortation is directed are the kings and iudges of the land The Spirit of the Lord doth single them out by name from all the rest not meaning thereby that they alone were to do the things that here and after he doth require of them but his meaning is by them to vnderstand all of what degree soeuer they were by the figure Synecdoche when some are put for all For he would haue all to repent and to submit themselues vnto the Lord who before did rebell against him But yet he nameth them onely who were thus the Kings and Iudges of the land for sundry causes As first because they were deepest in rebellion and had trespassed most therein as being the ringleaders of all the rest Secondly because they bad more things to stay thē backe then others had and a greater meanes to pull them from the performance of the exacted duties And lastly because they being conuerted would easily draw all others after them and cause them to do as they had done For the multitude commonly doth depend vpon the higher powers and looke what they do the same doth content them well according to that in 2. Sam. 3.36 And all the people knew it speaking of Dauids mourning and fasting for Abner and it pleased them as whatsoeuer the king did pleaseth all the people For these causes and the like the holy Ghost might well direct his speech by name vnto the Kings and Iudges and not speake in generall vnto all though he did meane all and his purpose were to haue euery one to do the things here exacted of them and not that the Kings and Iudges should doe them alone Here by the way we may obserue a notable good instruction which is this namely that Magistrates and men in chiefe authority should first of all turne vnto the Lord and be as the captaines of all the rest in performing loyall and faithfull obedience vnto him in all dutifull manner as it doth become them For first and foremost they are more bound as we say vnto God then others are as hauing larger benefites and greater giftes bestowed vpon them then any besides them haue for the more bountifull that any is to vs the more dutifull should we be to him a gaine Secondly because they for the most part go beyond all others in sins and trespasses for number and greatnesse for the more and greater our sinnes and trespasses be the more speed and hast should we make to leaue them and to turne vnto the Lord from them lest they bring destruction vpon vs before we are aware Finally because all others do hang vpon them as the dore doth on the hinges and turne as they doe turne for whom also they must answere at the dreadfull day of iudgement when all secrets of mens hearts shall be disclosed and euery one shall receiue according to his waies For the more that we may bring to God and the heauier charge we haue to answere the more forward should we be to do those holy duties which do belong to vs that we might saue many and not be damned our selues Oh that gouernours would lay this neare vnto their hearts and make a good vse thereof vnto themselues Blessed yea twise blessed then should both they and we be Abraham Iosuah Samuel Dauid Asa Iehosaphat Hezechia Iosiah and others that were men of great place and authority haue done this long before our daies The Lord grant for his mercies sake that our rulers and chiefe men for gouernment may do it alwaies do it in our daies in the daies of our posterity after vs. But if they should faile herein which God forbid yet let vs who haue some authority ouer others looke
to our selues in this case and performe that duty which the Lord doth require of vs. We must not alone bring our children and seruants to the knowledge of their sins and cause them to walke in the waies of the Lord but we our selues must go before them in these duties and by our examples leade them on to a carefull performance thereof First we our selues must turne to the Lord and become most dutifull and loyall vnto him and walke continually in his cōmandements Then when this is done we must be most earnest with thē see that they do the like that so all of vs may ioyne together in turning vnto him from whom we went astray and redeeme as it were the time that is past by an eager persuing after all those things as do belong to vs according to our roomes callings I pray thinke on these matters and I beseech God to giue a blessing vnto them that they may do you good But to to come to the chiefe point which is here to be stood vpon marke diligently vpon what consideration the Kings and Iudges and so all others in them are called vpon to repentance and amendment of life It is vpon the consideration of the great perill and danger wherein they stood For the exhortation which is here made is deduced out of the former words and the manner how it is drawne standeth thus All those that are in a most dangerous estate and are likely to be ouerthrowne with a shameful and perpetuall destruction they had neede to be wise and learned and turne to the Lord as it doth become them But such is your case o Kings and Iudges your are in a most dangerous estate and you are likely euery one of you to be ouerthrowne with a shamefull and perpetuall destruction Therefore it stands you vpon to be wise and learned and to turne to the Lord as it doth become you From hence we gather this doctrine Doct. that where there is any perill or danger hanging ouer mens heads for their sinnes and trespasses there they must repent and amend their liues and turne to the Lord whom they haue offended So did vncircumcised Nineueh For when the Prophet Ionah had cryed in their citty and said Yet fourty daies and Nineueh shall be ouerthrowne they fasted and prayed and did put on sackecloth from the greatest of them euen to the least of them and did turne from their euill waies and from the wickednesse that was in their hands as we may see at large in the third chapter of the Prophecy of Ionah So did wicked Ahab for when the Prophet Elijah had told him of his sinne and of Gods iudgements that did belong vnto him for the same and had shewed him how the Lord would bring euill vpon him and his posterity and make his house like the house of Iereboam the son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha the sonne of Ahijah for the prouocation wherewith he had prouoked and made Israel to sinne euen then when he heard those words He rent his cloathes and put sackecloth vpon him and fasted and lay in sackecloth and went softly as it is in 1. Kings 21.27 So did stifnecked Israel For when troubles did come vpon them and miseries were likely to weare them out and to consume them to nothing they cryed from time to time vnto the Lord and bewailed their sinnes and transgressions before him as may be seene at large in the bookes of Moses the Iudges the Kings and the hundreth and seuen Psalme So lastly did the prodigall sonne for when he saw all was spent and he was like to die for hunger as hauing nothing to eate no not so much as the huskes which the swinne did feed vpon he came to himselfe and resolued to returne home vnto his father and to confesse his fault vnto him and to craue fauour at his hands as it is in Luke 15.16 c. that so he might be made as one of his hired seruants if not to be accepted of him as a deare sonne and child againe Thus you see how perils and dangers should moue vs to repentance and amendment of life The reason is this Reason because by repentance and amendment of life all perils and dangers are preuented and wholly remoued away from vs as all the former recited examples do notably declare vnto vs. But to adde a testimony or two thereunto consider what the Lord himselfe doth say in Ieremy chapter 18. verse 8. touching this matter in these word But if this nation saith he against whom I haue pronounced turne from their wickednesse I will repent of the plague that I thought to bring vpon them And do you neuer forget what he also said to Iosiah the king in 2. Chron. 34.27.28 Because saith he thine heart did melt and thou didst humble thy selfe before God when thou heardest his word against this place and against the inhabitants thereof and humbledst thy selfe before me and tarest thy clothes and weptest before me I haue also heard it saith the Lord. Behold I will gather thee to thy fathers and thou shalt be put in thy graue in peace and thine eyes shall not se all the euill which I will bring vpon this place and vpon the inhabitants of the same Most acceptable therfore you see vnto the Lord is an humble casting downe of our selues before him and shall bring vnto our soules mercy and comfort when proud rebellion and stiffe standing out with Pharaoh and others shall procure plague vpon plague till we be destroyed out of the world Seeing then that repentance doth stay the iudgements of God from falling downe vpon vs and remoue them cleane away from vs that they may do vs no hurt there is cause sufficient why we should repent and amend when his iudgements do hang ouer our heads and are likely euery houre to fall downe vpon vs to our destruction and vtter vndoing By this then we are taught first Vse that they deale very foolishly and fondly who being in perill and danger do yet still perseuere on in their sinnes and transgressions Alas it is like as if a man should remaine in an house when the house is all one a fire ouer his head and likely euery minute of an houre to consume him either by burning or falling Or else it is like as if a man should be in the midst of a riuer where he is ready continually to be drowned and doth see no way to escape yet will not stretch out his hand to lay hold of that which may saue his life and minister vnto him a present succour and aide Secondly hereby we may learne what we our selues ought to do in all manner of distresses and calamities whatsoeuer Is the hand of the Lord already vpon vs or do we feare some iudgements to come Humble we our selues then before the Lord be we sory for our sinnes leaue we all our wicked wayes and turne we soundly vnto the Almightie and all shall be well
with vs both his hand that is vpon vs shall be remoued away and those iudgements that do hang ouer vs shall be staied and neuer fall downe vpon vs. Neuer forget we that comfortable saying which is in 2. Chro. 7.14 and is vttered by God himselfe in these words If my people saith he among whom my name is called vpon do humble themselues and pray and seeke my presence and turne from their wicked wayes then will I heare in heauen and be mercifull to their sinne and will heale their land Downe then at night and downe in the morning before your God send vp vnto him the true sighes of an humble heart and of a broken soule for all your transgressions and assure your selues as you liue and breathe he will respect them with a sauing grace For he hath a most melting heart towards his poore people that when the rod is euen vp and he ready to smite then euen then he stayeth his hand oftentimes of himselfe and is loath to strike yea he breaketh out into compassionate words such as are in Hosea 11.8 when he saith How shall I giue thee vp O Ephraim how shall I deliuer thee O Israel How shall I make thee as Admah how shall I set thee as Zeboim My hart is turned within me my repentings are rolled together I will not execute the fiercenesse of my wrath c. as it is there in that place Could euer any father speake more compassionately ouer his child when he were about to beate him Surely no tongue can expresse the Lords goodnesse and pitty towards vs. And therefore settle with your selues this comfort that if you returne from your sinnes and once leaue your transgressions he will not punish you nor execute those iudgements vpon you which you haue deserued Obiect But we are in no danger may you say Obiect and so need not to repent for that cause For we liue in the dayes of peace and no peril doth hang ouer our heads Ans Ans Let no man deceiue himselfe For we all haue sinned and trespassed against the Lord and his Annointed as well as these Kings and Iudges had done who are here called vpon to repentance and amendment of life and looke what danger they stood in through their sinnes and trespasses the same do we now stand in through our sinnes and trespasses and therefore we haue as great need to repent as they had Will you that I speake all in one word Then thus it is Euery person of vs haue deserued to be cast into hell forasmuch as we do daily breake the commandements of God and all the iudgements that are there do of right belong vnto vs and we are liable vnto them euery houre yea euery minute of an houre and therefore I say we haue great need to repent to auoide them Questionlesse the more we stand out the worse it will be for vs. We our selues dislike haughtie pride in others towards vs but especially in such as owe vs duty and obedience and humble and meeke spirits we take pleasure in He that yeeldeth when we chide and stoopeth to vs when we are angry we quickly obserue and readily receiue to fauour againe How much more thinke you are these things due to God from dust and ashes Follow then what to him you know is pleasing and to your selues euer profitable An army of souldiers shall not sooner repell our enimies from vs then true repentance shall the Lords wrath that hangeth ouer vs. That is the onely thing that can make vp the hedge and stand in the gap before the Lord for vs that he should not destroy vs. For the Lord cannot strike vs when we hold vp our hands for mercy and looke vpon him with watery eyes humbled in the dust before him and for Christ begging pardon at his hands And therefore euer make vp this wall of defence by true prayer and hearty repentance against him and stand your selues in the gap thus crying vnto him in his Sonne against your sinnes and be assured you shall preuaile But alas men do faile much in the performance of this dutie It may grieue a good heart and soule to thinke how wretchlesse and carelesse they are therein Though iudgements lie heauy vpon some of them already yet they repent not nor returne to the Lord. The sicknesse that is vpon them the vexation of spirit that is within them the vntowardnesse of their children and seruants that are neare vnto them and the losse of their goods which do decay each day more and more round about them cannot rouze them vp from their sinnes nor conuert them soundly vnto the Lood but they continue still in their transgressions and grow rather worse then better therein adding drunkennesse vnto thirst and one sinne vnto another God amend them if it be his pleasure and giue vnto them better hearts Others there are amongst them who yet are spared ouer whom notwithstanding the iudgements of the Lord do hang in a most fearefull and cuident manner For they are likely euery houre to haue some plague fall vpon them and to be carried away body and soule to hell their sinnes and abhominations are so vile and filthy before the Lord. But yet alas they perseuere on still in their euill wayes and take not this holy course of repentance to stop the Lords iudgements from falling downe vpon them and to saue themselues from that sulphurian and euer-tormenting place It is noted of the wise man in the Prouerbes chapter 23.3 that he seeth the plague and hideth himselfe but the foolish on the the contrary side goe on still and are punished Deale we as this wise man and not as the foole Looke we vpon our dangers and labour we by a sound conuersion vnto the Lord to preuent them otherwise the Lord himselfe will say of vs as he did of Ephraim when he sayd The sorrowes of a trauelling woman shall come vpon him he is an vnwise sonne else would he not stand still at the time euen at the breaking forth of the children Hosea 12.13 Great stirre doth euery man almost make when his aduersarie commeth to take the possession of his house and liuing ouer his head and that by force and violence or when the Shrieffes men do approach neare to take him and to carry him to the gaole where he knowes he shall lie in wofull miserie some time and in the end leese his life by a shamefull death Oh what ado then is there what shiftings then do enter into mans heart No stone then as we say is left vnmoued but euery course that may be thought vpon is taken to preuent that perill and danger And yet shall men lie still and do nothing to preuēt the danger of hel which is 10000. times worse thē any prison or death in this world brings with it more troubles by millions then euer the losse of any house or liuing can do here Awake we awake we and if euer men will bestirre their stumpes as it